The Lagos State Government has marked the 2022 International Day for Tolerance.
The day provides an opportunity for people across the world to celebrate diversity and stand up against hatred and bigotry.
Officials of the Lagos State government marked the day with a peaceful walk through some streets in the State.
Lagos is home to people from the various tribes, ethnic groups and religious backgrounds, who have lived together in peace for centuries.
This year’s International Day for Tolerance, provides an opportunity to deepen that peaceful coexistence in the city.
The Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs embarked on this peaceful walk to create more awareness on the need for peaceful Co-Existence in the state and Nigeria at large.
From the State Secretariat in Alausa to Allen junction in Ikeja, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Olanrewaju Elegushi led the walk, with Muslim and Christian leaders.
Their placards with different inscriptions speak on ability to respect and accept differences in people, in terms of race, religion or any other factor that may make them stand out.
No doubt, religion and politics are interwoven in Nigeria, but the clerics here said the role of religion is to teach morals, promote peace and good neighbourliness.
They insist that when well managed, these attributes that the two major religions enjoin adherents to practice will engender good governance in a democracy.
The 16th November was set aside by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Day for Tolerance in 1995, to promote tolerance and non-discrimination in the society.
Lagos State according to many is a Micro-Nigeria or even World as it is almost practically impossible not to find most of the nations’ over 200 ethnic groups represented in most parts of the State.
The need to celebrate and promote peace in Lagos which is not only a Micro Nigeria but the Nations’ Commercial and Economic nerve Centre cannot be Over- emphasised as Peace and Tranquility in Lagos is a pointer to national Economic Stability and Development.
